Ceredigion County Council has opened a county-wide consultation inviting residents, businesses and community groups to put forward suggestions for new and improved walking, wheeling and cycling routes. The exercise is part of a statutory requirement to update the county’s Active Travel Network Maps for submission to the Welsh Government by December 2026.
Why the consultation matters locally
The maps updated through this process will influence planning, delivery and the distribution of public funding for active travel schemes in the county. They are used to identify where improvements or new connections could make everyday trips — to school, work, shops and services — safer and more accessible.
The consultation concentrates on the three designated Active Travel localities identified by the Welsh Government: Aberystwyth, Cardigan and Lampeter. Members of the public can use an interactive map on the council’s Engagement and Consultation webpage to comment on existing routes and to propose extensions or new links.
What residents can do and the timescale
- Consultation period: 3 July 2026 to 25 September 2026.
- How to take part: via the council’s Engagement and Consultation webpage and interactive map.
- Focus areas: Aberystwyth, Cardigan, Lampeter and connecting routes such as the work already underway between Aberystwyth and Bow Street.
"This consultation gives those who live, work or visit the designated areas of Aberystwyth, Lampeter and Cardigan to chance to give their personal recommendations on further improvements and extensions to the network," said Cllr Shelley Childs, Cabinet Member for Highways and Environmental Services.
Local work is already in progress to link active travel paths between Aberystwyth and Bow Street. The consultation provides an opportunity to build on that investment and to highlight missing connections, barriers to safe travel, or places where improved surfaces, crossings or signage would make a material difference.
Immediate consequences and longer-term impact
Responses gathered during the consultation will feed into the council’s revised Active Travel Network Maps, which then inform future project planning and bids for funding. For residents this could mean:
- safer routes for children walking or cycling to school;
- better access for people who use mobility aids or wheelchairs;
- increased opportunities for low-carbon everyday journeys.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Consultation open | 3 July 2026 |
| Consultation closes | 25 September 2026 |
| Statutory deadline | Submission by December 2026 |
For residents considering a contribution, think about regular journeys you make, barriers you encounter, and where a new or improved path would allow people to leave the car at home. Submissions that identify specific locations, describe the problem and suggest practical changes are most useful to planners and likely to influence funding bids.
The council has stressed that everyone who lives, works or visits the designated localities is encouraged to participate. The consultation is an opportunity to shape how Ceredigion connects neighbourhoods and supports healthier, cleaner transport in the years ahead.
